College of Health Sciences Climaxes 25th Anniversary with Renewed Commitment to Excellence in Education, Research and Healthcare
The College of Health Sciences has marked its 25th anniversary under the theme, “UG College of Health Sciences @ 25: Transforming Lives through Excellence in Education, Research and Healthcare.” Launched in May, the anniversary celebrations featured a series of events throughout the year to commemorate the College’s achievements in education, research and community impact.
The celebrations culminated with the climax of the Noguchi Annual Research Meeting (ARM) 2025, which also marked 10 years of the ARM at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research. The joint event brought together faculty, students, researchers, policymakers, alumni and partners, providing a platform to showcase the contributions of the College to health education, cutting-edge research and community engagement in Ghana and across the sub-region.
Chairing the anniversary climax event at the Great Hall, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, Prof. Gordon A. Awandare, lauded the College’s research achievements and underscored its pivotal role in Ghana’s health sector. He highlighted that CHS hosts several flagship research units, including the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, the School of Public Health, the Medical School and the recently established West African Genetic Medicine Centre (WAGMC), which have been at the forefront of Ghana’s health gains.
Prof. Awandare commended the successive leadership of the College over the past 25 years, noting that their collective vision has created an environment that enables sustained growth. He also expressed gratitude to stakeholders, including the Ministries of Health and Education, professional bodies, alumni, collaborators and philanthropists, for supporting the College’s development.
The Pro Vice-Chancellor urged the College to remain competitive as it embarks on its next chapter. “We must not rest on our laurels. The College must stay ahead by focusing on research and innovation and leveraging the best available technologies in teaching and learning,” he said.
In his welcome address, Prof. Alfred Edwin Yawson, Provost of the College, recounted the key activities that took place during the anniversary week. These, he mentioned, included a seminar on the humanness of the Black race, sports competitions, a two-day public lecture on kidney health and a breast-cancer awareness outreach hosted at the West African Genetic Medicine Centre (WAGMC). He noted that the programmes were aimed at “promoting unity and oneness among members of the College and inspiring the next generation of health professionals.”
Prof. Yawson mentioned that several faculty, staff and partners of the College will receive awards for their significant contributions to the College’s growth. In addition, the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research planned an open day to give the public direct exposure to the College’s research and learning initiatives. According to him, the anniversary activities were scheduled to conclude with a thanksgiving service at the Korle-Bu Community Chapel.
He emphasised the importance of leveraging digital health technologies, strengthening interdisciplinary collaborations and building strategic partnerships to further enhance the College’s research visibility and impact.
The Provost also announced plans to establish a 200-computer laboratory to support student training and expressed gratitude to the University management, the College Advisory Board and partners for their continued support and commitment to the College’s growth and development.
The special guest of honour for the occasion, Mr. Ernest Ofori Sarpong, Chair of the College Advisory Board, commended the College for nurturing health professionals who continue to advance its vision. He highlighted that students remain central to addressing the sector’s pressing challenges, noting that “quality healthcare is a fundamental human right.”
Mr. Ofori Sarpong urged the College to maintain unity while continuing to prepare the next generation of health leaders. He expressed appreciation to faculty, staff and students, describing their dedication and passion as instrumental to the College’s achievements. He conveyed the commitment of the Advisory Board to supporting the Provost and College leadership in pursuing a transformative vision for the future.
Prof. Abdoulaye Djimbe, President of the African Association for Research and Control of Antimicrobial Resistance (AAARM) and Head of the Molecular Epidemiology and Drug Resistance Unit at the Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Science, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Mali, delivered the keynote address virtually.
Speaking on the 25th anniversary theme, “Transforming Lives through Excellence in Education, Research and Healthcare,” Prof. Djimbe highlighted how high-quality research and innovative approaches can drive improved health outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa. He focused on monitoring parasite diversity as a pathway to malaria elimination, detailing a pilot project that began with 100 malaria-positive blood samples for genomic sequencing and later expanded using malaria research repositories to assess parasite diversity across the continent.
He highlighted challenges such as limited infrastructure for storing and analysing genomic data and a shortage of African scientists trained in genetics and bioinformatics. He noted that support from the New Deltas Africa Initiative, launched by the UK government, has enabled training of outstanding students from 17 West African countries in malaria genomics and bioinformatics.
Prof. Djimbe also shared progress on Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials assessing the safety, efficacy and transmission-blocking potential of the antimalarial drug KAF156 combined with lumefantrine reformulation, alongside efforts to expand clinical trial capacity in Niger.
He detailed the importance of community engagement and science-policy integration, underscoring that effective research, ethical frameworks and robust technological infrastructure are crucial to translating scientific findings into practical health interventions, which directly reflect the College’s mission to transform lives through education, research and healthcare.
The climax of the 25th anniversary and 10th Noguchi Annual Research Meeting (ARM) provided the College of Health Sciences with an opportunity to reiterate its commitment to advancing research excellence, strengthening partnerships and preparing the next generation of health leaders. With a renewed focus on digital transformation, interdisciplinary collaboration and community-centred science, the College, alongside the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, is well-positioned to expand its impact across Ghana and the sub-region in the coming decade.